The Grand Imam of Al Azhar Ahmed el Tayeb highlighted cooperation with the Foreign Ministry either at the level of delegating preachers abroad or bringing foreign students to study at Al Azhar.
During a meeting Tuesday with Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry, el Tayeb stressed the importance of Al Azhar preachers in correcting the misconceptions about Islam and disseminating the upright teachings of the religion, calling for more cooperation with the Foreign Ministry.
Shoukry, for his part, praised Al Azhar's role in confronting the wrong thoughts that tarnish Islam's image, praising the outcome of the conference which was organized recently by Al Azhar in Cairo to fight extremism and terrorism.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Badr Abdel Ati said the Grand Imam discussed with Shoukry the Islamophobia phenomenon which, he said, needs cooperation of non-Muslim countries to correct the image of Islam which was affected as a result of mistaken practices by some Muslim youth.
He said an agreement was reached during the meeting to draw up urgent plans for tours by the Grand Imam of some Asian, European and African countries.